Tristateable cmos driver with controlled slew rate for integrated circuit i/o pads

ABSTRACT

A novel output driver for an integrated circuit, and method for controlling the slew rate of output signals driven by the output driver, is presented. The output driver employs a delayed activation of a succession of weak impedance zip legs followed by a preferably delayed activation of a succession of strong impedance drive legs. During a transition of an output signal on an output node of the driver from a first drive state to a second drive state, each zip leg, in its turn, turns off driving the output node to the first drive state and then turns on driving the output node to the second drive state. Once all zip legs have been activated, the activation of the succession of strong drive legs supplements the combined current provided by the zip legs to provide the full required drive current of the driver driving the output node to the second drive state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to slew rate control of signal drivers in integrated circuits, and more particularly to a novel tristateable output driver with controllable slew rate for integrated circuit input/output pads.

Integrated circuits are commonly packaged as chips. An integrated circuit communicates with devices external to the chip via input and output signal pads. Inside the chip, the signal pads are connected to signal receiver and signal driver circuitry, as appropriate, to receive incoming signals or to drive outgoing signals.

The signal pads on a chip are connected to the packaging of the chip (e.g., a pin, wire bond, solder ball, etc.) which is then typically connected to respective signal traces on a printed circuit board. The signal traces may connect the chip to other integrated circuit chips, electronic devices, or connectors on the printed circuit board that connect to external (i.e., off-board) devices.

In some integrated circuit applications, it is desirable to reduce the slew rate (i.e., the rise and fall times) of output signals. For example, some applications require reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI). It is well known in the art that EMI emitted by a signal is related to its change in voltage with respect to time, whereby faster signal rise and fall times result in increased EMI. In applications that require low EMI, one obvious solution is to shield the output signals; however, shielded components (e.g., shielded boards, cables, connectors) add to the cost of the hardware. Another solution, as provided by the output driver of the present invention, is to reduce the slew rate on the edges of the signal transitions in order to directly reduce the actual EMI generated by the signal transition, and therefore eliminate or reduce the need for shielding.

In other or the same applications, it is desirable to reduce the noise on the power supplies. Fast signal transitions result in current spikes on the power supplies, resulting in greater supply noise. Conversely, by reducing the slew rate of the signal, causing it to transition over a longer of period of time, the magnitude of the current spikes, and therefore the noise, on the power supplies is reduced.

In other or the same applications, where the electrical length of the signal traces or busses are long compared to the signal rise/fall times, the traces/busses begin to assume transmission line characteristics (including parasitic resistance, capacitance, and inductance), and require impedance matching in order to avoid signal reflections. However, if the signal rise/fall time is long compared to the electrical length of the transmission line, such that the signal reflections are received at the source while the signal is still rising/falling, then the effects of the signal reflections are only minimal and essentially negated (since the voltage value of the reflections received at the source are relatively close in value to the voltage being driven by the source when the reflections reach the source). In order to lengthen the signal rise/fall time relative to the length of the transmission line, slew rate control of the signal driven by the output driver is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novel output driver for an integrated circuit, and method for controlling the slew rate of output signals driven by the output driver. The invention employs a delayed activation of a succession of weak (i.e., characterized by a relatively smaller drive current) zip legs followed by a preferably delayed activation of a succession of strong (i.e., characterized by a relatively larger drive current) drive legs. During a transition of an output signal on an output node of the driver from a first drive state to a second drive state, each zip leg, in its turn, turns off driving the output node to the first drive state and then turns on driving the output node to the second drive state. Once all zip legs have been activated, the activation of the succession of strong drive legs supplements the combined current provided by the zip legs to provide the full required drive current of the driver driving the output node to the second drive state. The output driver is preferably tristateable. Furthermore, the amount of delay between successive activation of zip legs, and within the zip legs, between turning off the circuit of the respective zip leg pulling the output node to the first drive state and turning on the circuit of the respective zip leg pulling the output node to the second drive state, is preferably adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment of the output driver of the invention, the output driver includes one or more sequentially ordered zip legs and one or more sequentially ordered drive legs. The zip legs preferably are characterized by a small drive current relative to the drive current of the drive legs. Each zip leg includes a zip pull-up circuit and a zip pull-down circuit. The zip pull-up circuit receives both a first zip drive signal and a second zip drive signal, and switchably electrically connects the output node of the output driver to a first voltage source when both the first zip drive signal and the second zip drive signal are in a first voltage state, and electrically isolates the output node of the output driver from the first voltage source when one or both of the first zip drive signal and the second zip drive signal are in a second voltage state. The zip pull-down circuit receives both the first zip drive signal and the second zip drive signal, and switchably electrically connects the output node of the output driver to the second voltage source when both the first zip drive signal and the second zip drive signal are in the second voltage state, and electrically isolates the output node of the output driver from the second voltage source when one or both of the first zip drive signal and the second zip drive signal are in the first voltage state.

During a transition of the output signal from a first drive state to a second drive state, the output driver performs a sequentially delayed activation of each of the zip legs. Within each zip leg activation, the pull-up circuit or pull-down circuit driving the output node to the first drive state is first disabled prior to enabling the opposite one of the pull-up circuit or pull-down circuit to drive the output node to the second drive state.

When all of the zip legs are activated to drive the output node to the second drive state, the output driver performs a (preferably, sequentially delayed) activation of each of the drive legs to enable the appropriate one of the drive pull-up circuit or drive pull-down circuit to electrically connect the output node to the appropriate one of the first or second voltage source that reflects the second drive state and to electrically isolate the output node from the first or second voltage source that reflects the first drive state.

In effect, the output driver of the invention controls the slope of a transitioning signal on the output node of output driver using stepwise voltage division/impedance reduction and augmentation. The invention allows precise control over the slew rate of the signal, which thereby allows precision shaping and timing of both the rising and falling transitions of the output signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art output driver for an integrated circuit;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an output driver implemented in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a representative zip leg implemented in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a representative drive leg implemented in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a controller implemented in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6A is a plot of voltage step number versus V_(OUT)/V_(DD) of an output driver design example implementing 5 zip legs; and

FIG. 6B is a plot of voltage step number versus V_(OUT)/V_(DD) of an output driver design example implementing 25 zip legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A novel controlled-voltage output driver circuit for an integrated circuit and method for controlling the same is described in detail hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the illustrative embodiments are shown by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustrating a conventional output driver circuit 1. As shown, the driver circuit 1 includes a pull-up circuit 2, a pull-down circuit 3, and an output node 4. The pull-up circuit 2 and pull-down circuit 3 each receive a data signal DATA_OUT 6 that is representative of an output signal to be driven onto the output node 4 and a tristate signal TRISTATE 7 that is representative of the mode of the output driver 1. When the tristate signal TRISTATE 7 is asserted, the output driver 1 is in a tristate mode, and both the pull-up circuit 2 and the pull-down circuit 3 are electrically isolated from the output node 4. When the tristate signal TRISTATE 7 is deasserted, the output driver 1 is in a drive mode, and one or the other of the pull-up circuit 2 or pull-down circuit 3 drives the voltage level of the output node 4 to reflect the state of the data signal DATA_OUT 6. For example, assuming a positive-true logic scheme (where a first voltage level (e.g., V_(SS) or ground) represents a deasserted, or logic “0”, value, and a second voltage level (e.g., V_(DD)) represents an asserted, or logic “1”, value) and that the tristate signal TRISTATE 7 is not asserted, when the data signal DATA_OUT 6 has a logic “0” value, pull-down circuit 3 operates to pull the voltage on output node 4 to the first voltage level, and when the data signal DATA_OUT 6 has a logic “1” value, pull-up circuit 2 operates to pull the voltage on output node 4 to the second voltage level.

The node 4 may be configured as an output node only, in which case it would not be coupled to a receiver circuit. Alternatively, the node 4 may be configured as an input/output (I/O) node that allows input of signals as well as output of signals. If the node 4 is configured as an I/O pad, the node 4 will be coupled to a receiver circuit 5 which monitors the state of the voltage on the node 4 to generate an input signal PAD_IN 8.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an output driver 100 implemented in accordance with the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the output driver 100 includes a plurality of zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), and a plurality of drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), each coupled to an output node 102, and a controller 130. The output node 102 may be coupled to an integrated circuit output terminal such as an output or input/output pad or pin, or alternatively may be coupled to another node internal to the integrated circuit. The controller 130 is responsive to a data output signal DATA_OUT 104 and generates a plurality of zip leg control signals 132 ₁, 132 ₂, . . . , 132 _(n), 134 ₁, 134 ₂, . . . , 134 _(n) and drive leg control signals 136 ₁, 136 ₂, . . . , 136 _(n), 138 ₁, 138 ₂, . . . , 138 _(n), which, together with the tristate signal TRISTATE 108, control the timing and mode of connection of the respective legs to the output node 102.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a representative one 110 _(i) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) of FIG. 2. Each component in the representative zip leg 110 _(i) corresponds to a like component of each of zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), and is distinguished by a subscript i, where i=1, 2, . . . , n, indicating the respective zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) to which it belongs. As illustrated by the representative zip leg 110 _(i), each zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) includes a pull-up circuit 112 _(i) comprising an OR gate 115 _(i) and a pull-up device 117 _(i), and a pull-down circuit 114 _(i) comprising an AND gate 116 _(i) and a pull-down device 118 _(i).

In the pull-up circuit 112 _(i), the OR gate 115 _(i) receives as input a tristate signal 149 tri that reflects the state of a tristate signal TRISTATE 108, a zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) _(i) 132 _(i) and a zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) _(i) 134 _(i). The output of the OR gate 115 _(i) controls activation of the pull-up device 117 _(i). In the illustrative embodiment, the pull-up device 117 is implemented with a CMOS P-Channel Field Effect Transistor (PFET) having a source coupled to a high voltage source V_(DD), a gate coupled to the output of the OR gate 115 _(i), and a drain coupled to the output node 102 (optionally via a series resistor 119 a _(j)).

In the pull-down circuit 114 _(i), the AND gate 116 _(i) receives as input a complementary tristate signal 147 ntri that reflects the complementary state of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108, the zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) _(i) 132 _(i) and the zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) _(i) 134 _(i). The output of the AND gate 116 _(i) controls activation of the pull-down device 118 _(i). In the illustrative embodiment, the pull-down device 118 _(i) is implemented with a CMOS N-Channel Field Effect Transistor (NFET) having a source coupled to a low voltage source (ground), a gate coupled to the output of the AND gate 116 _(i), and a drain coupled to the output node 102 (optionally via a series resistor 119 b _(j)).

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a representative one 120 _(j) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) of FIG. 2. Each component in the representative drive leg 120 _(j) corresponds to a like component of each of drive leg 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), and is distinguished by a subscript j, where j=1, 2, . . . , m, indicating the respective drive leg 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to which it belongs. As illustrated by the representative drive leg 120 _(j), each drive leg 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) includes a pull-up circuit 122 _(j) comprising an OR gate 125 _(j) and a pull-up device 127 _(j), and a pull-down circuit 124 _(j) comprising an AND gate 126 _(j) and a pull-down device 128 _(j).

In the pull-up circuit 122 _(j), the OR gate 125 _(j) receives as input a tristate signal 149 tri that reflects the state of a tristate signal TRISTATE 108, a drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) _(j) 136 _(j) and a drive leg “on” signal ON_(D) _(—) _(i) 138 _(j). The output of the OR gate 125 _(j) controls activation of the pull-up device 127 _(j). In the illustrative embodiment, the pull-up device 127 is implemented with a CMOS P-Channel Field Effect Transistor (PFET) having a source coupled to a high voltage source V_(DD), a gate coupled to the output of the OR gate 125 _(j), and a drain coupled to the output node 102 (optionally via a series resistor 129 a _(j)).

In the pull-down circuit 124 _(j), the AND gate 126 _(j) receives as input a complementary tristate signal 147 ntri that reflects the complementary state of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108, the drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) _(i) 136 _(j) and the drive leg “on” signal ON_(D) _(—) _(j) 138 _(j). The output of the AND gate 126 _(j) controls activation of the pull-down device 128 _(j). In the illustrative embodiment, the pull-down device 128 _(j) is implemented with a CMOS N-Channel Field Effect Transistor (NFET) having a source coupled to a low voltage source (ground), a gate coupled to the output of the AND gate 126 _(j), and a drain coupled to the output node 102 (optionally via a series resistor 129 b _(j)).

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a circuit implementing the controller 130 of FIG. 2. Controller 130 receives the data signal DATA_OUT 104, a pad input signal PAD_IN 106, and the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. Controller 130 includes a multiplexer 140, inverter 142, inverter 144, inverter 146, inverter 148, and a plurality of delay buffers 135 ₂, 135 _(m), 131 ₁, 131 ₂, 131 _(n), 133 ₁, 133 ₂, 133 _(n), 137 ₁, 137 ₂, 137 _(m).

Inverter 142 receives a data signal DATA_OUT 104 that is representative of the drive state to be driven onto the output node 102 and generates an inverted version 143 of the data signal DATA_OUT 104. Inverter 144 receives the pad input signal PAD_IN 106, for reasons discussed hereinafter, and generates an inverted version 145 of the pad input signal PAD_IN 106. Inverter 146 receives the tristate signal TRISTATE 108, that is representative of the mode of the output driver and generates signal ntri 147 that is an inverted version of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. Inverter 148 receives the signal ntri 147 and generates signal tri 149 that is representative of the state of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. The signal ntri 147 is used to select one or the other of the signals 143 and 145 for output from the multiplexer 140 as a control signal CTL 141.

The delay buffers 135 ₂, 135 _(m), 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, 131 _(n), 133 _(n), 137 ₁, 137 ₂, 137 _(m) are arranged and connected, output to input, in series. The control signal CTL 141 is output as drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) ₁ 136 ₁. The control signal CTL 141 is also input to a first drive leg delay buffer 135 ₂, which generates drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) ₂ 136 ₂, a delayed version of drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) ₁ 136 ₁. Drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) ₂ 136 ₂ is input to a next first drive leg delay buffer 135 ₃, which generates drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) ₃ 136 ₃, and so on until m drive leg “off” signals OFF_(D) _(—) ₁ 136 ₁, OFF_(D) _(—) ₂ 136 ₂, . . . , OFF_(D) _(—) _(m) 136 _(m), are generated.

Drive leg “off” signal OFF_(D) _(—) _(m) 136 _(m) is input to a first zip leg delay buffer 131 ₁, which generates zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) ₁ 132 ₁. Zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) ₁ 132 ₁ is input to a second zip leg delay buffer 133 ₁, which generates zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) ₁ 134 ₁. Zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) ₁ 134 ₁ is input to a first zip leg delay buffer 131 ₂ of the next zip leg 110 ₂ which generates zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) ₂ 132 ₁. Zip leg “off” signal OFF_(z) _(—) ₂ 132 ₂ is input to a second zip leg delay buffer 133 ₂, which generates zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) ₂ 134 ₂. The number of delay buffers and pattern of connection of the delay buffers are repeated until n zip leg “off” signals OFF_(z) _(—) ₁ 132 ₁, OFF_(z) _(—) ₂ 132 ₂, . . . , OFF_(z) _(—) _(n) 132 _(n), and n zip leg “on” signals ON_(z) _(—) ₁ 134 ₁, ON_(z) _(—) ₂ 134 ₂, . . . , ON_(z) _(—) _(n) 134 _(n) are generated.

Zip leg “on” signal ON_(z) _(—) _(n) 134 _(n) is input to a second drive leg delay buffer 137 ₁ of the first drive leg 120 ₁, which generates drive leg “on” signal ON_(D) _(—) ₁ 138 ₁. Drive leg “on” signal ON_(D) _(—) ₁ 138 ₁ is input to a second drive leg delay buffer 137 ₂ of the next drive leg 120 ₂, which generates drive leg “on” signal ON_(D) _(—) ₂ 138 ₂. The number of second delay buffers and pattern of connection of the second delay buffers of the drive legs are repeated until m drive leg “on” signals ON_(D) _(—) ₁ 138 ₁, ON_(D) _(—) ₂ 138 ₂, . . . , ON_(D) _(—) _(m) 138 _(m) are generated.

Operation of the output driver 100 of FIGS. 2-5 will now be described. The output driver 100 operates in two different modes: tristate mode and drive mode.

In tristate mode, the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is asserted (corresponding to a high voltage value, or a logic “1”). Thus, (1) signal ntri 147 is at logic level “0”, which disables all of the pull-down circuits 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(n) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 m of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), and (2) signal tri 149 is at logic level “1”, which disables all of the pull-up circuits 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(n) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m). Accordingly, the output driver 100 is isolated from the output node 102.

In tristate mode, the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is asserted (i.e., is driven to a logic “1” value); thus, signal ntri 147 is at logic level “0”. Multiplexer 140 therefore selects the inverted version 145 of the pad in signal PAD_IN 106 to output as the control signal CTL 141. The signal PAD_IN 106 is the signal from the output node 102 as received by the receiver circuit (see 5 in FIG. 1), which may be implemented using any of a plurality of receiver circuits that are well-known in the art (and not considered a part of the invention). Receiver circuits are well-known in the art, and any Control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), the first and second zip leg delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), and second drive leg delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to effectively “preset” all of the pull-up circuits 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(n) and pull-down circuits 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(m) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all of the pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) and pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to pull the output node 102 to the drive state that reflects the current signal state of the bus when the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is deasserted.

To change the mode of the output driver 100 from tristate mode to drive mode, the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is deasserted (corresponding to a low voltage value, or a logic “0”); thus, signal ntri 147 changes to a logic level “1” and signal tri 149 changes to a logic “0” level. There are generally four possibilities of operation of the driver circuit 100 when coming out of tristate mode into drive mode, depending on the current state of the signal present on the node 102 and the state of the data signal DATA_OUT 104 to be driven onto the node 102.

In the first instance of operation of the driver circuit 100 when coming out of tristate mode into drive mode, the node 102 is at a low voltage level, corresponding to a current state of logic “0” on the node 102, and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 to be driven onto the node 102 is a logic “0”. In this instance, the pad in signal PAD_IN 106 (which corresponds to the current state of the signal present on the node 102) is also at a low voltage level, or logic “0”. Thus, the inverted pad in signal 145 is at a high voltage level, or logic “1”, which is output as control signal CTL 141 by multiplexer 140. Control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), the first and second zip leg delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), and second drive leg delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to effectively “preset” or “ready” all of the pull-down circuits 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(m) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all of the pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to pull the output node 102 to the logic “0” drive state upon deassertion of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. Accordingly, in this instance where the state of the node 102 is logic “0” and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 drives a logic “0” when the output driver 100 comes out of tristate mode and into drive mode, all of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) and all of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) immediately pull the output node 102 to a logic “0” when the tristate signal TRISTATE is deasserted.

In the second instance of operation of the driver circuit 100 when coming out of tristate mode into drive mode, the node 102 is at a low voltage level, corresponding to a current state of logic “0” on the node 102, and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 to be driven onto the node 102 is a logic “1”. In this instance, the pad in signal PAD_IN 106 (which corresponds to the current state of the signal present on the node 102) is also at a low voltage level, or logic “0”. Thus, the inverted pad in signal 145 is at a high voltage level, or logic “1”, which is output as control signal CTL 141 by multiplexer 140. Control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), the first and second zip leg delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), and second drive leg delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to effectively “preset” or “ready” all of the pull-down circuits 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(m) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all of the pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to immediately pull the output node 102 to the logic “0” drive state upon deassertion of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. In this instance, however, since the data signal DATA_OUT 104 is at a logic “1” and the current state of the signal present on the node 102 is a logic “0” (as indicated by PAD_IN 106), the node 102 must be driven to the opposite state. Thus, when the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is deasserted, the multiplexer 140 selects the inverted DATA_OUT signal 143 (logic “0” ) to output as the control signal CTL 141. The control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), to sequentially turn off the pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), then propagates, in sequence, through each of the first and second delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) to first turn off the corresponding pull-down circuit 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(m) of the corresponding zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and then to turn on the corresponding pull-up circuit 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(m) of the corresponding zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), and then propagates through the second delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to sequentially turn on the pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m)to pull the output node 102 to the logic “1” drive state in a slow controlled manner.

In the third instance of operation of the driver circuit 100 when coming out of tristate mode into drive mode, the node 102 is at a high voltage level, corresponding to a current state of logic “1” on the node 102, and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 to be driven onto the node 102 is a logic “1”. In this instance, the pad in signal PAD_IN 106 (which corresponds to the current state of the signal present on the node 102) is also at a high voltage level, or logic “1”. Thus, the inverted pad in signal 145 is at a low voltage level, or logic “0”, which is output as control signal CTL 141 by multiplexer 140. Control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), the first and second zip leg delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), and second drive leg delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to effectively “preset” or “ready” all of the pull-up circuits 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(m) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all of the pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to pull the output node 102 to the logic “1” drive state upon deassertion of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. Accordingly, in this instance where the state of the node 102 is logic “1” and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 drives a logic “1” when the output driver 100 comes out of tristate mode and into drive mode, all of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) and all of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) immediately pull the output node 102 to a logic “1” when the tristate signal TRISTATE is deasserted.

In the fourth instance of operation of the driver circuit 100 when coming out of tristate mode into drive mode, the node 102 is at a high voltage level, corresponding to a current state of logic “1” on the node 102, and the data signal DATA_OUT 104 to be driven onto the node 102 is a logic “0”. In this instance, the pad in signal PAD_IN 106 (which corresponds to the current state of the signal present on the node 102) is also at a high voltage level, or logic “1”. Thus, the inverted pad in signal 145 is at a low voltage level, or logic “0”, which is output as control signal CTL 141 by multiplexer 140. Control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first drive leg delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m), the first and second zip leg delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), and second drive leg delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to effectively “preset” or “ready” all of the pull-up circuits 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(m) of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all of the pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to pull the output node 102 to the logic “1” drive state upon deassertion of the tristate signal TRISTATE 108. In this instance, however, since the data signal DATA_OUT 104 is at a logic “0” and the current state of the signal present on the node 102 is a logic “1” (as indicated by PAD_IN 106), the node 102 must be driven to the opposite state. Thus, when the tristate signal TRISTATE 108 is deasserted, the multiplexer 140 selects the inverted DATA_OUT signal 143 (logic “1”) to output as the control signal CTL 141. The control signal CTL 141 propagates through the first delay buffers 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m) of the drive legs to sequentially turn off the pull-up circuits 122 ₁, 122 ₂, . . . , 122 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), then propagates, in sequence, through each of the first and second delay buffers 131 ₁, 133 ₁, 131 ₂, 133 ₂, . . . , 131 _(n), 133 _(n), of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) to first turn off the corresponding pull-up circuit 112 ₁, 112 ₂, . . . , 112 _(m) of the corresponding zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and then to turn on the corresponding pull-down circuit 114 ₁, 114 ₂, . . . , 114 _(m) of the corresponding zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), and then propagates through the second delay buffers 137 ₁, 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) to sequentially turn on the pull-down circuits 124 ₁, 124 ₂, . . . , 124 _(m) of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) to pull the output node 102 to the logic “0” drive state in a slow controlled manner.

Generally, once the output driver 100 has come out of tristate mode according to one of the possible instances described above, it operates according to a “normal” drive mode. In “normal” drive mode, when the data signal DATA_OUT 104 changes from one state to another, the drive legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(m) are first disabled in sequence to isolate the drive legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, 110 _(m) from driving the output node 102. The zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are then enabled in sequence to drive the output node 102 to the state indicated by the data signal DATA_OUT 104. Each zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) adds more combined drive current pulling the output node 102 to the state indicated by the data signal DATA_OUT 104, which increases or decreases the voltage on output node 102, depending on the direction of the signal transition. When all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) have been enabled, the drive legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(m) are then sequentially enabled to supplement the drive current of the zip legs to provide the full required drive current of the output driver 100.

The enabling and disabling of the pull-up circuit 112 _(i) and pull-down circuit 114 _(i) of a given zip leg 110 _(i) depends on the states of the “off” and “on” signals OFF_(z) _(—) _(i) and ON_(z) _(—) _(i), respectively. In the preferred embodiment, when the TRISTATE signal 108 is deasserted, these signals are merely inverted delayed versions of the data signal DATA_OUT 104. Thus, in steady state (that is, when data signal DATA_OUT 104 is not transitioning and has completely propagated through all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) and all drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, 120 _(m) of the output driver 100), all of the pull-up circuits or the pull-down circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned on to actively electrically connect the output node 102 to one of the first voltage source or second voltage source, and all of the other of the pull-up circuits or the pull-down circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned off to electrically isolate the output node 102 from the other of the first voltage source and second voltage source. Thus, if in steady state the output node 102 is in a high state (represented by pulling the output node 102 to V_(DD)), the data signal DATA_OUT 104 is high, and the pull-up circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned on to actively pull the output node 102 to the high voltage source (e.g., V_(DD)), and the pull-down circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned off to isolate the output node 102 from the low voltage source (e.g., V_(SS) or ground). Conversely, if in steady state the output node 102 is in a low state (represented by pulling the output node 102 to V_(SS) or ground), the data signal DATA_OUT 104 is low, and the pull-down circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned on to actively pull the output node 102 to the low voltage source (e.g., V_(SS) ), and the pull-up circuits of all zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are turned off to isolate the output node 102 from the high voltage source (e.g., V_(DD)). In some applications, the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) comprise entirely CMOS components so that during steady state, the output driver 100 draws no current (other than that drawn by transistor leakage). In other applications, the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) may also include respective resistors in series with each of the drive FETs (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) in order to improve the linearity of the I/V (current to voltage) curve of the output driver.

The zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are so named due to their behavior during transitions of the data signal DATA_OUT 104 when the output driver 100 is in drive mode or coming out of tristate mode. As described above, when the data signal DATA_OUT 104 transitions from one drive state to the other, when a zip leg is activated during its sequential turn (as determined by the states of the zip drive signals OFF_(z) _(—) _(i) 132 _(i) and ON_(z) _(—) _(i) 134 _(i) during drive mode), any currently enabled pull-up circuit or pull-down circuit is first turned off (disabled), and then a delay time later, the opposite one of the pull-up circuit or pull-down circuit is turned on (enabled). When the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) are arranged sequentially, as in the present invention, to receive a sequentially delayed inverted version of the data signal DATA_OUT 104, as the zip drive signals OFF_(z) _(—) _(i) 132 _(i) and ON_(z) _(—) _(i) 134 _(i), the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), or zipper portion of the output driver 100, effectively operate as a “zipper”. In this regard, the zipper portion of the output driver 100 operates to one-by-one, first turn off the currently active portion of the zip leg and then, a delay time later, turn on the opposite portion of the zip leg, such that each zip leg 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) is configured to increase the combined impedance pulling the output node 102 to the previous state, and to decrease the combined impedance pulling the output node 102 to the new state represented by the state of the data signal DATA_OUT 104. Thus, the zipper portion of the output driver 100 operates as a stepped voltage divider which controls the slew rate of the output signal seen on the output node 102.

When sizing the drive FETs of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n), the designer must determine the slope and shape of the desired signal transitions and make the required engineering tradeoff to meet those needs. If the zip leg drive FETs are too weak (i.e., sized too small), then the voltage on the output node 102 will not be able to charge/discharge the output node 102 fast enough to achieve the desired slope. On the other hand, if the zip leg drive FETs are too strong (i.e., sized too large), then the voltage on the output node 102 will be able to charge/discharge the output node 102 fast enough to achieve the desired slope, but will result in excessive current from V_(DD) to V_(SS) (or ground) through the zip legs during the transition. Accordingly, the designer of the output driver preferably sizes the zip legs so that they are just large enough to charge/discharge the load capacitance in the time needed for the desired slope, yet small enough to limit the current transients during output signal transitions.

Depending on the needs of the application, the output driver 100 may or may not include a staged turn-off and/or turn-on of pull-up circuits and pull-down circuits of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m). For example, if the output driver 100 is driving a purely capacitive load (CMOS bus), the staged turn-off and/or turn-on of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) may be unnecessary. On the other hand, if the output driver 100 is driving a resistive load (e.g. a terminated bus), to avoid voltage spikes and/or signal reflections, the staged turn-off and/or turn-on of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) may be advantageous.

The components required for the staged turn-off of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) include the drive leg first delay elements 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m). The components required for the staged turn-on of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) include the drive leg second delay elements 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m). Thus, if no (or little) benefit is derived from such a staged turn-off and/or turn-on of the drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m), the drive leg first delay elements 135 ₂, . . . , 135 _(m) and drive leg second delay elements 137 ₂, . . . , 137 _(m) need not be implemented, in which case all drive legs 120 ₁, 120 ₂, . . . , 120 _(m) will then be turned off and/or on (nearly) simultaneously.

It will be noted from the description of the preferred embodiment of the output driver that typically, the delay between turn-off and turn-on of the drive FETs in each of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) will be non-zero (i.e., the delay of the second zip leg delay buffer 133 ₁, 133 ₂, . . . , 133 _(n) is non-zero), in which case the number of controlled-voltage steps k in the transition of the signal OUT of the output driver will be twice the number of zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) n (i.e., k=2n). However, it will also be appreciated that in some designs, it may be advantageous to reduce the delay between turn-off and turn-on of the drive FETs in each of the zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) to zero (i.e., the delay of the second zip leg delay buffer 133 ₁, 133 ₂, . . . , 133 _(n) is reduced to zero). In this case, the number of controlled-voltage steps k in the transition of the signal OUT will equal the number of zip legs 110 ₁, 110 ₂, . . . , 110 _(n) n (i.e., k=n).

The slew rate and shape of the signal OUT driven onto the output node 102 is determined by a number of design factors, including the number of zip legs (corresponding to the number of controlled-voltage steps k in the transition of the signal OUT), the amount of impedance and corresponding amount of drive current of each zip leg increased or decreased at each step k, and the amount of delay ΔT_(k) between each step k, and the frequency of the signal OUT on output node 102.

Upon selection of the number of steps k, delay ΔT_(k) between each step k, and signal transition edge shape chosen, the desired output voltage values V_(OUT) and pullup and pulidown impedance provided at each step may then be determined for each step k. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that more control over the signal shape, and smoother transitions between steps, is achieved by increasing the number of zip legs, and therefore steps k.

Design Example

As an illustrative example, suppose that the designer desires to achieve a substantially linear slew rate of the output signal OUT. In this example (which includes analysis for only the zip leg portion of the output driver), the following assumptions are made:

1) All zip leg resistances are the same with R given as the resistance of an individual leg;

2) All zip delay buffers have identical delays (this will give a very linear transition);

3) There are n pullup legs and n pulldown legs; and

4) There are 2n voltage steps and 2n+1 voltage levels for 0-to-1 or 1-to-0 transition.

Rising Transition

R_(UP) is the pullup resistance at the k^(th) step and R_(DN) is the pulldown resistance at the k^(th) step. The resistance is given as R_(UP)=R/LEGS_(UP) and R_(DN)=R/LEGS_(DN), where LEGS_(UP) is the number of zip pullup legs active at the k^(th) step and LEGS_(DN) is the number of zip pulldown legs active at the k^(th) step. ${{LEGS}_{UP} = \frac{k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}}{2}},{{{and}\quad{LEGS}_{DN}} = \frac{{2n} - k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}}{2}},{and}$ ${R_{UP} = \frac{2R}{k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}}},{{{and}\quad R_{DN}} = \frac{2R}{{2n} - k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}}},$ where mod2(k) is the remainder of k/2 (=0 for k even and=1 for k odd) (this allows the equations for both odd k and even k to be written in a single closed-form equation).

The total resistance is then: $R_{TOT} = {{R_{UP} + R_{DN}} = \frac{4{R\left( {n - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}} \right)}}{\left( {k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}} \right)\left( {{2n} - k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}} \right)}}$

Using the voltage divider equation, we can solve for the ratio of the output voltage to V_(DD): $\frac{V_{OUT}}{V_{DD}} = {\frac{R_{DN}}{R_{TOT}} = \frac{k - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}}{2\left( {n - {{mod}\quad 2(k)}} \right)}}$ Falling Transition

R_(UP) is the pullup resistance at the p^(th) step and R_(DN) is the pulldown resistance at the p^(th) step. The resistance is given as R_(UP)=R/LEGS_(UP) and R_(DN)=R/LEGS_(DN), where LEGS_(UP) is the number of zip pullup legs active at the p^(th) step and LEGS_(DN) is the number of zip pulldown legs active at the p^(th) step. ${{LEGS}_{UP} = \frac{{2n} - p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}}{2}},{{{and}\quad{LEGS}_{DN}} = \frac{p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}}{2}},{and}$ ${R_{UP} = \frac{2R}{{2n} - p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}}},{{{and}\quad R_{DN}} = \frac{2R}{p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}}},$ where mod2(p) is the remainder of p/2 (=0 for p even and=1 for p odd).

The total resistance is then: $R_{TOT} = \frac{4{R\left( {n - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}} \right)}}{\left( {p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}} \right)\left( {{2n} - p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}} \right)}$

Using the voltage divider equation, we can solve for the ratio of the output voltage to V_(DD): $\frac{V_{OUT}}{V_{DD}} = \frac{{2n} - p - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}}{2\left( {n - {{mod}\quad 2(p)}} \right)}$

TABLE 1 illustrates the calculated values of the ratio of the voltage V_(OUT) of the signal OUT on output node 102 to the supply voltage V_(DD), ΔV, and 2ΔV, for k where V_(OUT)/V_(DD) is rising or for p where V_(OUT)/V_(DD) is falling, where the number of zip legs n=5. The columns labeled ΔV indicate the voltage difference between 2 successive steps. The columns labeled 2ΔV indicate the voltage difference between a step and the 2nd subsequent step (voltage different between an odd step and the next odd step or between an even step and the next even step). TABLE 1 Rising Falling k or p V_(OUT)/V_(DD) ΔV 2ΔV V_(OUT)/V_(DD) ΔV 2ΔV 0 0.0000 1.0000 1 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 2 0.2000 0.2000 0.2000 0.8000 −0.2000 −0.2000 3 0.2500 0.0500 0.2500 0.7500 −0.0500 −0.2500 4 0.4000 0.1500 0.2000 0.6000 −0.1500 −0.2000 5 0.5000 0.1000 0.2500 0.5000 −0.1000 −0.2500 6 0.6000 0.1000 0.2000 0.4000 −0.1000 −0.2000 7 0.7500 0.1500 0.2500 0.2500 −0.1500 −0.2500 8 0.8000 0.0500 0.2000 0.2000 −0.0500 −0.2000 9 1.0000 0.2000 0.2500 0.0000 −0.2000 −0.2500 10 1.0000 0.0000 0.2000 0.0000 0.0000 −0.2000

FIG. 6A is a plot of voltage step number versus V_(OUT)/V_(DD), illustrating the rising edge of signal OUT on output node 102 based on the calculated values from TABLE 1.

TABLE 2 illustrates the calculated values of the ratio of the voltage V_(OUT) of the signal OUT on output node 102 to the supply voltage V_(DD), ΔV, and 2ΔV, for k where V_(OUT)/V_(DD) is rising or for p where V_(OUT)/V_(DD) is falling, where the number of zip legs n=25. FIG. 6B is a plot of voltage step number versus V_(OUT)/V_(DD), illustrating the rising edge of signal OUT on output node 102 based on the calculated values from TABLE 2. TABLE 2 Rising Falling k or p V_(OUT)/V_(DD) ΔV 2ΔV V_(OUT)/V_(DD) ΔV 2ΔV 0 0.0000 1.0000 1 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 2 0.0400 0.0400 0.0400 0.9600 −0.0400 −0.0400 3 0.0417 0.0017 0.0417 0.9583 −0.0017 −0.0417 4 0.0800 0.0383 0.0400 0.9200 −0.0383 −0.0400 5 0.0833 0.0033 0.0417 0.9167 −0.0033 −0.0417 6 0.1200 0.0367 0.0400 0.8800 −0.0367 −0.0400 7 0.1250 0.0050 0.0417 0.8750 −0.0050 −0.0417 8 0.1600 0.0350 0.0400 0.8400 −0.0350 −0.0400 9 0.1667 0.0067 0.0417 0.8333 −0.0067 −0.0417 10 0.2000 0.0333 0.0400 0.8000 −0.0333 −0.0400 11 0.2083 0.0083 0.0417 0.7917 −0.0083 −0.0417 12 0.2400 0.0317 0.0400 0.7600 −0.0317 −0.0400 13 0.2500 0.0100 0.0417 0.7500 −0.0100 −0.0417 14 0.2800 0.0300 0.0400 0.7200 −0.0300 −0.0400 15 0.2917 0.0117 0.0417 0.7083 −0.0117 −0.0417 16 0.3200 0.0283 0.0400 0.6800 −0.0283 −0.0400 17 0.3333 0.0133 0.0417 0.6667 −0.0133 −0.0417 18 0.3600 0.0267 0.0400 0.6400 −0.0267 −0.0400 19 0.3750 0.0150 0.0417 0.6250 −0.0150 −0.0417 20 0.4000 0.0250 0.0400 0.6000 −0.0250 −0.0400 21 0.4167 0.0167 0.0417 0.5833 −0.0167 −0.0417 22 0.4400 0.0233 0.0400 0.5600 −0.0233 −0.0400 23 0.4583 0.0183 0.0417 0.5417 −0.0183 −0.0417 24 0.4800 0.0217 0.0400 0.5200 −0.0217 −0.0400 25 0.5000 0.0200 0.0417 0.5000 −0.0200 −0.0417 26 0.5200 0.0200 0.0400 0.4800 −0.0200 −0.0400 27 0.5417 0.0217 0.0417 0.4583 −0.0217 −0.0417 28 0.5600 0.0183 0.0400 0.4400 −0.0183 −0.0400 29 0.5833 0.0233 0.0417 0.4167 −0.0233 −0.0417 30 0.6000 0.0167 0.0400 0.4000 −0.0167 −0.0400 31 0.6250 0.0250 0.0417 0.3750 −0.0250 −0.0417 32 0.6400 0.0150 0.0400 0.3600 −0.0150 −0.0400 33 0.6667 0.0267 0.0417 0.3333 −0.0267 −0.0417 34 0.6800 0.0133 0.0400 0.3200 −0.0133 −0.0400 35 0.7083 0.0283 0.0417 0.2917 −0.0283 −0.0417 36 0.7200 0.0117 0.0400 0.2800 −0.0117 −0.0400 37 0.7500 0.0300 0.0417 0.2500 −0.0300 −0.0417 38 0.7600 0.0100 0.0400 0.2400 −0.0100 −0.0400 39 0.7917 0.0317 0.0417 0.2083 −0.0317 −0.0417 40 0.8000 0.0083 0.0400 0.2000 −0.0083 −0.0400 41 0.8333 0.0333 0.0417 0.1667 −0.0333 −0.0417 42 0.8400 0.0067 0.0400 0.1600 −0.0067 −0.0400 43 0.8750 0.0350 0.0417 0.1250 −0.0350 −0.0417 44 0.8800 0.0050 0.0400 0.1200 −0.0050 −0.0400 45 0.9167 0.0367 0.0417 0.0833 −0.0367 −0.0417 46 0.9200 0.0033 0.0400 0.0800 −0.0033 −0.0400 47 0.9583 0.0383 0.0417 0.0417 −0.0383 −0.0417 48 0.9600 0.0017 0.0400 0.0400 −0.0017 −0.0400 49 1.0000 0.0400 0.0417 0.0000 −0.0400 −0.0417 50 1.0000 0.0000 0.0400 0.0000 0.0000 −0.0400

As illustrated in both TABLE 1 and TABLE 2, the 2ΔV columns are bimodal. That is, there are only 2 values for a given value of n. The implication is that if we plot the voltages for only the odd steps or only the even steps, we get a perfectly linear plot. But since the 2 values of 2ΔV are different from each other, the values for ΔV are constantly changing during the transition. A plot of all of the voltage steps results in a technically non-linear plot; however, it is clear from the plots in both FIGS. 6A and 6B that the overall transition is substantially linear. The voltage steps are the most non-linear at the beginning and end of the transition, and the least non-linear (most linear) at the middle of the transition.

As illustrated from FIGS. 6A (where the number of zip legs n=5) and 6B (where the number of zip legs n=25), the more zip legs used (i.e., the greater n), the smoother the signal transition. Whereas both implementations result in a substantially linear signal OUT, FIG. 6A illustrates that fewer zip legs (n=5) result in “coarse” linear transitions, as compared to FIG. 6B, which illustrates that more zip legs (n=25) result in “fine” linear transitions.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the shape of the signal OUT driven onto the output node 102 may be controlled by varying the number of steps, the delay amount between each step, and the pullup and pulldown impedance defined for each step.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the edge transitions of the output signal OUT may be precisely controlled by selecting an appropriate number of steps and setting appropriate values for each of the pullup and pulldown impedance and time delay ΔT₁, ΔT₂, . . . , ΔT_(k) associated with each step. Thus, if it were desirable to have a non-linear edge transition, the designer could vary the time delay ΔT₁, ΔT₂, . . . , ΔT_(k) between each step and/or the pullup or pulldown impedance connected at each step.

It will also be appreciated that the use of a constant time delay ΔT between each pulldown impedance change step allows one to change the slew rate of the driven signal DATA merely by changing the value of the constant ΔT. By using a variable delay unit whose delay time ΔT is programmable, the delay buffers 135 ₂, 135 _(m), 131 ₁, 131 ₂, 131 _(n), 133 ₁, 133 ₂, 133 _(n), 137 ₁, 137 ₂, 137 _(m) can be programmed using standard well-known programming methods.

Although the invention has been described in terms of the illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited in any way to the illustrative embodiment shown and described but that the invention be limited only by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A controlled slew rate output driver which drives an output signal onto a node of a circuit, said output driver comprising: a plurality of sequentially ordered zip legs, each comprising: a zip pull-up circuit responsive to both a first zip drive signal and a second zip drive signal which switchably electrically connects said node to a first voltage source when both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in a first voltage state and electrically isolates said node from said first voltage source when one or both of said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in a second voltage state, and a zip pull-down circuit responsive to both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal which switchably electrically connects said node to said second voltage source when both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in said second voltage state and electrically isolates said node from said second voltage source when one or both of said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in said first voltage state, wherein said second zip drive signal of said respective zip leg is a delayed version of said respective first zip drive signal of said corresponding zip leg, and wherein said first zip drive signal of said respective zip leg is a delayed version of said second zip drive signal of said zip leg immediately previous to said respective zip leg in said plurality of sequentially ordered zip legs if said previous zip leg exists; and zero or more drive legs, each comprising: a drive pull-up circuit which switchably electrically connects said node to said first voltage source when each of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said first voltage source and electrically isolates said node from said first voltage source when any of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are deactivated to electrically isolate said node from said first voltage source, and a drive pull-down circuit which switchably electrically connects said node to said second voltage source when each of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said second voltage source and electrically isolates said node from said second voltage source when any of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are deactivated to electrically isolate said node from said second voltage source.
 2. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said output driver receives a tristate signal operative in one of an asserted state and a non-asserted state, said asserted state indicating that said output driver is in a tristate mode and said non-asserted state indicating that said output driver is in a drive mode; and each of said respective zip pull-up circuits, said respective zip pull-down circuits, said respective drive pull-up circuits, and said respective drive pull-down circuits are responsive to said tristate signal to electrically isolate said node from said first voltage source and said second voltage source when said tristate signal is in said asserted state.
 3. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said zero or more drive legs are sequentially ordered; when each of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said first voltage source, said output driver performs a delayed activation of said respective drive pull-up circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to said sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs; and when each of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said second voltage source, said output driver performs a delayed activation of said respective drive pull-down circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to said sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs.
 4. An output driver in accordance with claim 3, wherein: said output driver receives a drive signal operative in one of a first state and a second state, said first state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said first voltage source and said second state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said second voltage source; and when said drive signal transitions from one of said first state and said second state to the other of said first state and said second state, said output driver performs a delayed deactivation of said respective drive pull-up circuits and said respective drive pull-down circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to said sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs prior to activation of any of said plurality of zip legs.
 5. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said zero or more drive legs are sequentially ordered; said output driver receives a drive signal operative in one of a first state and a second state, said first state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said first voltage source and said second state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said second voltage source; and when said drive signal transitions from one of said first state and said second state to the other of said first state and said second state, said output driver performs a delayed deactivation of said respective drive pull-up circuits and said respective drive pull-down circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to said sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs prior to activation of any of said plurality of zip legs.
 6. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each said respective zip pull-up circuit of said plurality of zip legs comprises a logic OR gate and a PFET device, wherein said PFET device comprises a source connected to said first voltage source, a drain connected to said node, and a gate, and wherein said logic OR gate receives as input both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal and generates an OR gate output which drives said gate of said PFET device; and each said respective zip pull-down circuit of said plurality of zip legs comprises a logic AND gate and an NFET device, wherein said NFET device comprises a source connected to said second voltage source, a drain connected to said node, and a gate, and wherein said logic AND gate receives as input both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal and generates an AND gate output which drives said gate of said NFET device.
 7. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said output driver receives a drive signal operative in one of a first state and a second state, said first state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said first voltage source and said second state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said second voltage source; and each said respective plurality of zip legs comprises a first delay buffer which generates said respective first zip drive signal and a second delay buffer which receives said respective first zip drive signal of said respective zip leg and generates said respective second zip drive signal as a delayed version of said respective first zip drive signal of said respective zip leg; and wherein said respective first delay buffer of said respective zip leg receives said respective second zip drive signal of a respective previous zip leg immediately previous to said respective zip leg in said plurality of sequentially ordered zip legs if said previous zip leg exists, and wherein said respective first delay buffer of said first respective zip leg in said plurality of sequentially ordered zip legs is coupled to received a zip drive signal indicative of said state of said drive signal.
 8. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each of said respective zip pull-up circuits, said respective zip pull-down circuits, said respective drive pull-up circuits, and said respective drive pull-down circuits are implemented entirely of CMOS devices.
 9. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each of said respective drive pull-up circuits and said respective drive pull-down circuits are implemented to drive a higher current than each of said respective zip pull-up circuits and said respective zip pull-down circuits.
 10. An output driver in accordance with claim 1, comprising: a zip leg controller which generates each of said respective first zip drive signal and said respective second zip drive signal for each of said respective plurality of zip legs.
 11. An output driver in accordance with claim 10, wherein: said zip leg controller programmably adjusts a respective delay between each of said respective first zip drive signal and said respective second zip drive signal for each of said respective plurality of zip legs.
 12. A method for controlling the slew rate of an output signal driven onto a node of a circuit by an output driver, said output driver comprising plurality of sequentially ordered zip legs each comprising a zip pull-up circuit responsive to both a first zip drive signal and a second zip drive signal and a zip pull-down circuit responsive to both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal, and zero or more drive legs each comprising a drive pull-up circuit and a drive pull-down circuit, said method comprising: electrically connecting said node to a first voltage source when both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in a first voltage state and electrically isolating said node from said first voltage source when one or both of said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in a second voltage state; electrically connecting said node to said second voltage source when both said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in said second voltage state and electrically isolating said node from said second voltage source when one or both of said first zip drive signal and said second zip drive signal are in said first voltage state; and electrically connecting said node to said first voltage source when each of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said first voltage source and electrically isolating said node from said first voltage source when any of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are deactivated to electrically isolate said node from said first voltage source; and electrically connecting said node to said second voltage source when each of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said second voltage source and electrically isolating said node from said second voltage source when any of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are deactivated to electrically isolate said node from said second voltage source.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 12, comprising: receiving a tristate signal operative in one of an asserted state and a non-asserted state, said asserted state indicating that said output driver is in a tristate mode and said non-asserted state indicating that said output driver is in a drive mode; and electrically isolating said node from said first voltage source and said second voltage source in each of said respective zip pull-up circuits, said respective zip pull-down circuits, said respective drive pull-up circuits, and said respective drive pull-down circuits when said tristate signal is in said asserted state.
 14. A method in accordance with claim 12, comprising: performing a delayed activation of said respective drive pull-up circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to a sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs when each of said respective zip pull-up circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said first voltage source; and performing a delayed activation of said respective drive pull-down circuits of said zero or more drive legs according to said sequential ordering of said zero or more drive legs when each of said respective zip pull-down circuits of all of said zip drive legs are activated to electrically connect said node to said second voltage source.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 12, comprising: receiving a drive signal operative in one of a first state and a second state, said first state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said first voltage source and said second state indicating that said output driver should connect said node to said second voltage source; sequentially delaying a signal representative of said drive signal to sequentially generate each said respective first zip drive signals and said respective second zips drive signals of said plurality of zip legs.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 15, comprising: programmably adjusting a respective delay between each of said respective sequentially delayed first zip drive signals and second zip drive signals.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein: each of said respective drive pull-up circuits and said respective drive pull-down circuits are implemented to drive a higher current than each of said respective zip pull-up circuits and said respective zip pull-down circuits. 